How to Remove Melted Cheese From Dishware

Melted cheese usually makes a dish more delicious, but it can also make your dishware more difficult to clean. If the melted cheese scorches from the heat, it becomes even more of a kitchen nightmare. No matter how glue-like it is, you can remove stuck-on melted cheese with a few different methods. If one method doesn't work, it will at least help loosen the stuck-on cheese for the next method.

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Removing melted cheese is messy business.

Soak in Hot, Soapy Water

Everyone knows that soaking things helps remove stuck-on food, but in the middle of panicking about your favorite dishware, it can slip your mind. Place the dishware in a clean, plugged sink and then add grease-fighting liquid dish soap and the hottest water your faucet can produce. After an hour, drain the water and refill the sink with hot water and soap. Once the second soak's water has cooled enough to work with, scrape the cheese off the pot. A pot scraper or an old credit card work especially well for getting under the layer of cheese to lift it off. Keep in mind that most disposable dish scrubbers you use will be covered in melted cheese and no longer useful. Avoid metal scrubbers when cleaning delicate surfaces.

Simmer With Soap

Add a grease-fighting liquid soap and hot water to the dishware and simmer it using whatever heating method is safe for the dishware. For example, if you're dealing with a slow cooker crock, put it back in the slow cooker and turn it to high. Allow the water to heat for between 10 and 20 minutes and then let it cool enough to touch. Use a wooden spoon or a plastic spatula to scrape the hopefully-softened cheese off the dishware. A mesh scrubber will work too, but be prepared to replace it once it is covered in the melted cheese.

Scrub With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a safe abrasive material that will not scratch surfaces but will help remove melted cheese. Fill the dishware with hot water and then dump it out before adding a handful of baking soda. Using a scrubber that you don't mind replacing, scrub the melted cheese off with the baking soda. Rinse the dishware and add more baking soda as needed until it is clean. Don't use a metallic scrubber if your dishware is nonstick or easily scratched.

Soak in Oven Cleaner

Oven cleaner is a last-resort cleaning tactic that will remove almost anything from dishware. It is only safe for some dishware, though. Many oven cleaners can damage aluminum surfaces and strip the paint off of painted dishware. If your dishware is not aluminum or painted, take it outside or to a well-ventilated area and spray it with a layer of oven cleaner. Place the dishware in a trash bag and close the bag to keep the fumes contained. After an hour, remove the dishware from the trash bag and take it to the sink. While running hot water over the dishware, use a wooden or plastic utensil to scrape off the melted cheese. Repeat this process as many times as needed.